MYTHOS.

In 2006, Post-Katrina, Ben went on a walkabout and found himself in the Czech Republic and enrolled, via scholarship, to the Prague Center For Entertainment and Theatrical Arts. After completing an intensive 4 month semester writing, shooting, and editing 16mm film projects abroad he returned home and enrolled in the University of New Orleans Film program.

In 2007, he was hired for his first official freelance gig as a Camera Operator and Data Wrangler. This low budget, independent short film titled Mr. Okra won a Sundance audience award and went on to be selected for and screened at the Cannes International Film Festival. For the next two years Ben germinated the seeds of film Mr. Okra had planted spending Mornings absorbing Screenwriting and Editing classes. Afternoons interning as an Associate Producer for a Travel Channel show. Evenings & Nights as the Southern region’s youngest Kinko’s Lead Production and Design Manager. And Weekends, building a homemade Avid Symphony Suite (thanks student loans!).

In 2009, his tuition grants and loans maxed out while he burned out from the now, FedEx Kinko’s Corporatocracy, Ben Conceded emotional and financial defeat. He discussed his departure with his roommates and packed his belongings into his truck and drove 13 hours overnight to Aiken, South Carolina where his parents lived and he had been raised since the age of 8 years. At 9am, weary and defeated, discussing Job applications and Temp Service plans with Mom and Dad over cups of coffee and cigarettes, the phone rings …

… It is lead Editors Kyle Curry (Wonder Years, Dream On, MacGyver) and TG Herrington (Mr Okra, The Mechanic, Purple Mountain) on conference call interviewing and then hiring him as an emergency replacement Editor. Ben told them he could be back in New Orleans in 13 hours. The truck, still packed, made it back just in time to beat a time critical deadline for their biggest client.